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If you're staring down a lifetime's collection of trinkets, art, jewelry and other possessions, you might be thinking about the benefits of an estate sale. Estate sales can be a great way to clear out unwanted items. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about exactly what estate sales are, and these can deter people from planning one, even when it's a perfect fit for the situation. Here's a look at several of the most common misconceptions about estate sales and the truth you should know.

Estate Sales Only Happen After A Death

Estate sales are quite common after a loved one passes away, because it's often the easiest way to handle the things left behind. Additionally, when you need to liquidate to help pay for some of the final expenses and outstanding debts, it's a fast and easy method to do so. This may be where this misconception began. In fact, you are within your rights to use the term "estate sale" for any sale that contains an entire estate of items that would be of interest to collectors, dealers and other interested parties.

Nobody Shops Estate Sales Because Of The Clutter

It's easy to get overwhelmed with the amount of things appearing in your estate sale, and without expertise to evaluate some of the contents, you might wonder what you should and shouldn't include. The truth is, estate sales have been known to contain a variety of rare collectibles, valuable jewelry, coins and even old artwork. Despite this reputation, don't hesitate to include even modern appliances, furnishings and other items. There's a market for almost everything, and your liquidator can help you find it.

The Liquidator Will Take First Choice

Most liquidators will not shop their own estate sales, and certainly won't pre-purchase before the sale opens to the public. You can be sure that all of the valuables that you place in the sale will be available to everyone at the sale when it opens. One of the ways that a liquidator ensures repeat customers at the sales that he or she hosts is by providing quality contents in each sale. When prospective buyers know that a particular liquidator usually offers valuable and worthwhile items, those buyers are more likely to return to the sale. This fact alone discourages liquidators from pre-buying from their own sales.

Estate Sales Are For The Wealthy

The idea of an estate sale often conjures images of large, sprawling mansions and elaborate collections of art and jewels. The truth is, middle and lower class families also have collectible and valuable items that are fit for estate sales. Many of the pieces that antique liquidators find come from hand-me-downs and old family belongings that have been passed on for generations. These don't always have to originate in wealthy families, but can be found in homes of all income levels.

You Can't Have An Estate Sale Without Antiques

It's true that many estate sales include antiques of all kinds, but that doesn't make antiques a prerequisite. In fact, you can still do very well with an estate sale if you don't have many collectibles or antiques at all. Sometimes, you'll even find that the books you thought would be worthless turn out to be priceless first editions or that figurine your mother passed down to you is an antique treasure that you didn't know about.

Whether you're cleaning out after a loved one passes away or you just want to simplify your lifestyle and clear out some belongings, an estate sale may be the best way for you to do it. Now that you know the facts behind some of the most common misconceptions, you can talk with an estate liquidator to find out if your belongings are suitable for this type of sale. For more information, visit a website like http://www.international-auction-gallery.com.